Machine for carroting furs



Filed Oct. 10,1930

Sm n, 1 v i; 1 J n 5M@ My 29, 1934- E. A. CULHANE Er AL MACHINE FOR CARROTING FURs Patented May 29,1934 v 1,960,528 o MACHINE Fon cARRoTING FURs Edward A. culhane and Davia D. wilson, Danbury, Conn.

Application October 10,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fur treating and has particular relation to an improved means `and method of chemically treating furs as with carroting liquids, dyes, or materials for improving the lustre of furs.

An object of the invention'is to provide an improved machine for spraying fur or for spraying fur bearing skins, the machine being so constructed that the material sprayed onto the fur will be brought close down to the skin as well as on the remaining portions of the fur fibres.

Another object is to provide a machine for the purpose stated, in which the fur bearing skins are automatically treated, it being-only necessary to feed the skins to the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine for spraying chemicals onto fur while on the fur bearing skins, the machine including a sprayer and a breaker means for bending the skins or breaking open the fur on the skins to cause separation of the fur fibres in line with the sprayer, whereby the chemical being sprayed onto the skins will' reach the fur fibres tothe base of each of them. An additional objectis to provide a machine having the characteristics stated and including a hood disposed about the sprayer or nozzle and adjustable to confine the spray to adapt the machine for the treatment of various sizes of skins or pelts.

Yet another object is to provide an improved method oi chemically treating fur bearing skins, the method beingadapted for carroting, dyeing or otherwise 'treating the fur on the skin, the method vinsuring that each iibre on the skin or hide will be equally and uniformly treated. Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein is shown a satisfactory embodiment of the invention. However,

it is to be understood that the-drawing and this description are for the purpose of disclosure only and that the invention is not limited to the form shown since changes in construction ,combina tion and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims to which reference is to be made fora definition of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a detail on an enlarged'scale;l

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged detail top plan view of a section of the belt or conveyor.

Fig. 5 is a section thereof.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section showing how the skins are retained on the conveyor as it'passes over the breaker roll; and

limited to such use since it is also useful in con-- nection with the dyeing of furs and in connection with the treatment of furs toy give thema to add to their lustre.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the maglaze or 5 including uprights 6 and sides 7 and 8 mounted by the uprights. The sides 7 and 8 support rolls, including the front and rear rolls 9 and 10, over which is trained an endless belt or conveyor 11.

This conveyor 11 may be of rubber or of duck covered with rubber and as detailed in Figs. 4 and 5 preferably has its upper surface provided with small projections vor pyramids or rubber giving the belta gripping or friction surface.

Fur bearing skins or pelts 12 are fed tothe machine by being placed on the upper flight 13 thereof at the front end of the belt, or at that end adjacent the roll 9. According to the present arrangement of parts the skin is preferably fed through the machine tail first and initially is treated to remove any wrinkles from it. This treatment takes place as the skin passes beneath the small rolls 14, the conveyor carrying the skin being supported at the under side -by means of a relatively large roll 15. The rolls 14 are preferably rubber covered rolls -which cause the .skins to conform to thel conveyor or apron and remove any wrinkles in the skin.

Immediately on leaving the rolls 14, the skin passes beneath wire guards comprising cross bars or rods 16, 17 and 18 connected by means of longitudinally extending wires 20. Wires 20 are connected with the cross bars or rod by cutting slots 21 into the rods and brazing the wire in whereby to provide a smooth connection as indicated in Figs. 6 and '7.

It is to be noted that at the cross bar 17 the upper flight 13 of the conveyor 11 turns downwardly at an angle of approximately 80 degrees. That is, the conveyor is bent or turned about a breaker roll 22. It will be understood that the guide wires retain the fur close against the conveyor and that as the conveyor turns sharply about or bend over the breaker roll 22 the skin must do likewise vso as to open up or separate the fur as indicated at 19.

Mounted in bearings 23 on the sides 7 and 8 is a brush 24, the same being driven from any suitable source of power as will be explained and rotating in a clockwise direction. The brush 24 is just above the breaker roll 22 and operates to cause the fur toopen or stand out from the hide as the fur bearing skin or pelt passes over the breaker roll. Due to this particular arrangechine of the present invention comprises a frame l ment the fur fibres are caused to stand at right angles to the skin or hide and separate from eachother as the skin is bent over the breaker roll so that the carroting or other solution which is applied as will later be described, may pene-l trate to the base of each nbre.

Means are provided for spraying a carroting or other solution onto the fur bearing skin 12, as the latter is broken or bent about the breaker roll 22, and while its bres are standing out straight and separate from each other as above explained. Tothis end a sprayer or nozzle is provided, the same being adjustably mounted, by means of a slot 26, on a bracket 27 supported from the sides 7 and 8 as by means of a cross bar 28. Carroting, dyeing orother liquid is fed to the nozzle 25 through a hose or other connection 29 and air under pressure is likewise fed to said nozzle through a hose 30. The width of the "v spray may be adjusted by varying the pressure of the air and liquid and this latter may be accomplished through a valve 31. This spraying device creates a very fine spray or fog in the enclosed space so that the liquid is evenly and :thoroughly applied to the fur in just the right quantity to give the effect desired and not in sufcient quantity or in sufficiently large drops to injure the fur. l

The sprayer or nozzle 25 operates through a Ihood or conductor 31 designed to conduct and direct ,the sprayed material. This hood is adjustable vertically since it is supported by rods 32 operating in slots 33 in standards 34 which standards support the cross bars 28 previously .z referred to. Further, the hood 31 includes upper and lower sections 35 and 36 which are relatively adjustable, being connected by pin and slot connection at 37, and these sections may be adjusted toward or from each other to vary the width of the spray passing through the mouth of the hood adjacent the conveyor.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the fibres of fur are brushed in a direction away from or opposite to their natural inclination by the brush 24 to raise the fur away from the skin,

immediately before the fur is carried over the breaker roll 22. Since the skin is bent in passing over the breaker roll, the bres are caused to stand out straight at right angles to the skin, and separate' from each other as indicated at 19. Therefore, the carroting orother solution being sprayed onto the fur at this point will penetrate to the base of each fibre and each libre will' accordingly be thoroughly treated.

On passing the rod or bar 18, the upper flight.-

of the conveyor is bent about a relatively large roll 38. This roll 38 operates to press the skin or pelt against the conveyor thereby squeezing the same and tending to equally distribute the liquid over and through the fur fibres.

Beyond the roll 38 the upper flight of the conveyor extends practically horizontally to and then around the roll 10. As the fur bearing skin passes from beneath the roll 38 it enters under guide wires 39 extending longitudinally of the conveyor and having their ends secured in cross rods 40 supported in the sides 7 and 8. Preferably the rods 40 are notched and the ends of the wires 39 are brazed or otherwise secured in the notches whereby smooth joints are formed.

Of course, the wires 39 retain the fur bearing skins at against the conveyor, and as the skins are received beneath these wires they are carried forward by the conveyor. These wires or wire guards hold the skins in position on the fur back into its natural position on the hide.

the bres away from-.the skin .or hide or contrary to their natural inclination asinthe case of brush 24. This. brush 41 further assists in distributing the chemical over the fur fibres and also tends to brush the same into the hide'.

Beyond the brush 4l, the fur bearing skin is engaged by a brush 42 rotating in a counter-- clockwise direction. The direction of the brush 42 is such that this brush brushes or combs lthe This action tends to straighten the fur fibres on the hide and the libres are next engaged by a iinishingbrush 43, the same being somewhat .liner than the other brushes and rotating in a counterclockwise directionand engaging the fur fibres to brush smooth the surface of the finished skin. Shortly after the skins leave the wire guard hey fall 01T the end of the conveyor and the wire guard prevents the skins from being rolled up due to the action of the brushes.

Power from any suitable source maybe used to drive the improved machine. By way of example, there is shown an electric motor 43' which through a pulley 44 drives' an endless belt 45 trained over a relatively large pulley 46 on a 105 shaft 47 carrying the roll 10. Also secured to the shaft 47 is a pulley 48 about which is trained an endless belt 49 crossed as at 50 and operating to drive a small pulley 51 on the shaft 52 carrying the brush.43. It will be understood that the pulley 48 rotates in a clockwise direction but that owing to the fact that the belt 49 is crossed, brush 43 is driven in a counter clockwise direction.

At the end of the brush 43 opposite the pulley 51, there is a pulley 53 which through a belt 54115 drives a pulley 55 on the shaft 56 carrying the brush 42. Since the belt 54 is not listed or crossed, brush 42 will necessarily be driven in a counter clockwise direction as in the case of brush 43. Carried on shaft 52 adjacent to pulley 51, 120 is a pulley 57 about which is trained an endless belt 58 crossed as at 59 and operating over a pulley 60. Since the belt 58 is crossed, pulley 60 will necessarily be 'driven in a clockwise direction. This pulley is on the shaft 61 carrying the brush 125 41 and at its opposite end this shaft is provided with a pulley 62 which through the medium of a belt 63 drives a pulley 64 secured to the shaft of brush 24. Belt 63 is not crossed and, therefore, brush 24 is driven in a clockwise direction as in 130 brush 41.

A glass casing or covering 65 is disposed over the machine to enclose the parts including the brush 24 andthe sprayer and a further glass case or cover 66 encloses the three brushes 41, 42 and 135 43. Also, a suction hood 67 is disposed over the entire machineto carry off gases or other dangerous or injurious matter.

Although the device has been described as used for spraying carroting liquid on' the furs, it is 140 equally adapted for spraying other liquids' or solutionsuch as alcohol, Irishmoss solution, nitro cellulose solution or other liquids to develop or maintain the luster on fur bearing skins for garment purposes, and the subsequent brushing gives them a very beautiful appearance.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a machine for chemically treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for the skins, a breaker roll over which passes said conveyor to give it a vsharp bend in a direction away from the fur side of the skin, guide means opposite said rollto bend the skin and separate the bres thereof as the same is carried over the breaker roll, and means to spray a chemical under pressure toward the skin and onto the separated bres while the latter are passing over the breaker roll.

2. In a machine for chemically treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for the skins, a breaker roll, said conveyor operating over said roll, means to hold the skins against the conveyor as they are carried over the breaker roll by the conveyor whereby the skins are bent and the bres thereof separated from each other, and means to spray a liquid chemical under pressure toward the skin and onto the separated-fibres as the skin is bent in passing over the breaker roll.

3. In a machine for'treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for carrying the skins, a pair of adjacent rollers on top of the conveyor for successively engaging the skin and removing wrinkles therefrom as the same is carried forward by the conveyor, means for holding the skin against the conveyor after the same passes said rolls, means for brushing the fur fibres ofthe skin in a direction away from the hide while held by said means, and a sprayer. directed toward the conveyor for spraying a liquid chemical onto the skin after the same leaves the brushing means.

4. In a. machine for treating fur bearing skins,

` a conveyor for carrying the skins, rolls for engaging the skins and removing wrinkles therefrom as the same are carried forward by the conveyor, stationary means extending longitudinally of the conveyor and closely adjacent thereto for holding the skins against the conveyor after they pass the rolls, means for brushing the fur fibres of the skins in a direction away from the hides while held by said' means, a sprayer directed toward the conveyor for spraying a liquid chemical under pressure onto the skins after they leave the brushing means, a roll for pressing the skins against the conveyor after they leave the spray to further distribute the chemical thereon. and means for brushing the fur fibres back into their natural position after they leave the pressing roll.

,5. In a machine for treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for carrying the skin, a roll for engaging the skin and removing wrinkles therefrom as the same is carried forward by the conveyor, stationary means extending longitudinally of the conveyor and closely adjacent thereto for holding -the skin against the conveyor after it has passed the rolls, means for brushing the' fur fibres of the skin in a direction away from the hidev while held by said means, a sprayer directed toward the conveyor for spraying a liquid chemical under pressure onto the skin after it leaves the, brushing means, a roll for pressing the skin against the conveyor after it leaves the spray to further distribute the chemical thereon, means for thereafter brushing the fur fibres in a direction away from the hide to distribute the chemical, and means for brushing the fur fibres back into their natural positions.

6. Ina machine for treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for carrying the skins, a roll for engaging the skins and removing wrinkles therefrom as the same are carried forward by the conveyor, stationary means extending longitudinally of the conveyor closely adjacent thereto `for holding the skins against the conveyor after they pass the rolls, means for brushing the fur fibres of the skins in a direction away from the hides while held by said means, a breaker roll over which theconveyor and holding means extend to bend. the skins leaving said brushing means, a sprayer directed toward the breaker roll for spraying a liquid chemical onto said skins as they pass over the breaker roll, means for thereafter brushing the fur fibres in a direction away from the hide to further distribute the chemical therethrough, and means for then brushing the fur fibres back into their natural positions.

7. In a machine for chemically treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for carrying the skins, stationary holding means extending longitudinally of the conveyor and closely adjacent thereto to retain the skins on the conveyor, means for brushing the fur fibres of the skins in a direction away from the skins while the latter are being carried by said conveyor, a breaker roll, said conveyor and holding means passing over the breaker roll to bend the skins and open the fur after leaving said brushing means, a sprayer directed toward the breaker roll for spraying a liquid chemical onto said skins as they pass over the breaker roll, a roll for passing the skins against the conveyor after they leave the sprayer to further distribute the chemical thereon, means for thereafter brushing the fur fibres in a direction away from the hide to also assist in distributing the chemical on the latter, and a brushing means for then brushing the fur bres back into their natural positions.

8. In a machine for chemically treating fur bearing skins, a conveyor for'carrying the skins, a breaker roll over which the conveyor passes to bend it away from the skins, means for holding the skins against the conveyor as they pass over the breaker roll to bend the skins and open up the fur fibres, means for spraying a liquid chemical onto the skins as they pass over thebreaker roll, a roll for pressing the skins against the conveyor after they leave the spraying means to further distribute the chemical through the fur fibres on the skins, means extending longitudi-` nally of the conveyor for holding the skins against the conveyor after leaving the pressing roll, means for brushing the fur fibres away from the hide while held against the conveyor by said means, and other means for brushing the fur bres back into'their natural positions while the skins are held against the conveyor by said means.

9. In a machine for treating fur bearing skins. a conveyor for carrying theA skins, stationary means extending longitudinally of the conveyor closely adjacent thereto for holding the skins against the conveyor after they pass the rolls, means for brushing the fur fibres of the skins in a direction away from the hides while held by said means, a breaker roll over which the conveyor and holding means extend to bend the skins leaving said brushing means, a sprayer directed toward the breaker roll for spraying a liquid chemical onto said skins as they pass over the breaker roll, means for thereafter brushing the fur fibres in a direction away fromthe hides to further distribute th'e chemical therethrough, and means for then brushing the fur bresback 14 into their natural positions.

EDWARD A. CULHANE.y

DAVID D. WILSON. 

